Bloomberg: Common Core, Immigration Major Hurdles for Jeb Bush

Jeb Bush has major problems in Iowa. His vocal support for immigration reform and the national education standards known as Common Core bother many in the state’s Republican base.

A Bloomberg Politics/Des Moines Register Iowa Poll of likely participants in the state’s 2016 Republican caucuses shows nearly two-thirds consider Bush’s positions on those issues to be a deal-killer, or something they’d consider when deciding whether to support him. Just 32 percent have no problem with those stands.

The poll also found that among five potential non-establishment candidates looking at running, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky scored the highest marks on a set of issues of interest to many Republicans.

Bush, a former Florida governor, has failed to show early strength in the state that will start the presidential nominating process a year from now. In the poll, he had the support of just 8 percent of likely Republican caucus-goers, roughly half the backing recorded by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. Part of the problem may be unfamiliarity—Bush hasn’t visited the state since October 2012—but the poll suggests he has other weaknesses.

“Common Core is not something that I’m a fan of, and it doesn’t seem like it needs to be there,” said Collin Gillaspie, 20, a Republican who lives in Davenport and works for city government. He’s leaning toward supporting Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, if he runs.

“On immigration, I feel like it’s not right for people to just move here and apply for a work visa. You have to come here and earn it,” Gillaspie said. “I think a lot of people are too soft on the issue.”